Activists criticize Tehran for controversial Caspian legal regime

More
than 100 Iranian political activists have criticized Iran in a statement issued
on the first anniversary of signing the Caspian Sea legal regime.

Iran,
Russia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed the
document in August 2018, but since then the Iranian government has been
constantly criticized for compromising Iran's rights.

The
statement by Iranian activists said: "It appears that Russian President
Vladimir Putin has made the Iranian leader agree with the new legal regime by
exerting his influence on [Iran]."

The
activists charged that the agreement violates Iran's sovereignty and integrity.

Many
Iranians on social media have said during recent days that Iran's 50 percent
share of the Caspian Sea has been reduced to under 20 percent in the new
agreement.

However,
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said after signing the document last year,
that the agreement has not been finalized yet and needs to be ratified by the
Iranian Parliament.

A
recent summit between Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan was postponed but the
activists believe Tehran has already made too many concessions in the Caspian.